Arch supported retractable inflatable roof

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates in general to a roof construction and more particularly to a roof composed of a main spanning arch or arches above or beneath which other arches or arch sections rotate horizontally for the purpose of covering large areas such as stadiums, arenas, or storage and manufacturing areas, which roof can be moved from an open position where the area is exposed to the weather elements to a closed position wherein the area is shielded from the weather elements.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 852,014 which was filed on Apr. 14, 1986 and now abandoned.

The present application represents merely a clarification and moredetailed description in support of claims contained in the originalapplication and as such, the applicant requests the benefit of thefiling date of the original application.

As an example of the utility of the present invention one may take thecase of large sport arenas presently utilized by some of the majorbaseball league teams to play baseball and some of the major footballleague teams in the playing of professional football. Provision has beenmade in some of the prior art to cover some of these stadia withpermanent roofs. Most of these stadiums with permanent roofs comprise avertically extending wall structure on top of which the perimeter of thepermanent roof rests. Such roofs are generally dome shaped with thematerials of construction being in some cases reinforced concrete, insome cases a steel truss work covered with steel or other lighter weightmaterial (e.g. plexiglas) and in more recent cases some fixed roofs havebeen made of fabric supported by a cable network with the entireenclosed stadium slightly pressurized causing the fabric roof to billowup into a generally domed shape.

The prior art has also provided for retractable roofs by the use offolding fabric to effect field exposure. Such retraction systems involvevast areas of fabric and the wear on the fabric with repeated bendingand passage across hardware items tends to reduce the potential lifespanof the roof.

The prior art also utilizes in some instances essentially fixedstructures with limited areas retractable to produce the effect of apartially uncovered facility.

The present invention seeks to obviate the disadvantages in any of thehereinabove described prior art structures by providing a retractableroof that does not require folding and that provides extensive interiorexposure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coverconstruction whereby the roof may be partially comprised of fabricsections that may retract without requiring folding or other abrasivetreatment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a roof closureconstruction whereby the closure mechanisim utilized includes a wheeland track system for effecting the movement of the cover sectionsbetween open and closed positions.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing one half of the roof fully retracted, theother half fully closed;

FIG. 2 is an elevation depicting one side of one of the main arches witharch sections in the retracted configuration;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevation showing one side of one of the mainarches near the apex;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevation showing one side of one of the mainarches near the base;

FIG. 5 is an overall side elevation;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing both stationary and moveable arch sectionbase track beds;

FIG. 7 is a plan view depicting non-symmetrical arches;

FIG. 8 is a plan view depicting an oblong configuration;

FIG. 9 is a plan view depicting a configuration comprised of some fabricsections;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of one quadrant of the fabric sectionconfiguration;

FIG. 11 is a sectional elevation showing the fabric conveyance scheme;

FIG. 12 is a detail of the fabric dolly and

FIG. 13 is a detail of the air delivery system.

Referring to the drawings, and to FIG. 1 in particular, a retractableroof system is shown in plan view. Main arch 1 with arch sections 7,8,9and 10 rotated in beneath it is shown laterally rolled away from thestadium 70. Main arch 2 with arch sections 3,4,5 and 6 are shown in thefully closed configuration. Arch sections 3,4,5 and 6 may be rotated inbeneath main arch 2 and the entire system rolled away laterally thuseffecting complete exposure of the stadium interior.

Referring to both FIGS. 1 and 2, the moveable curved track bed 12 isshown. This track bed is integral with and is fully supported by themain arches 1 and 2. The upper ends of all arch sections rotate on apextrack beds 13 and 14 which are in turn fully supported by main arches 1or 2. The moveable track bed 12 may roll laterally without interferingwith the stationary curved track bed 11. The bases of main arches 1 and2 rest upon standard railway undercarriage trucks 16 which rolllaterally on a grade level track bed 15.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show expanded views of the apex track area and the archsection and main arch bases. In all cases, the rotating ends aresupported by standard railway undercarriage trucks 16.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation. In this depiction, main arch 2 is shownrolling on an elevated track bed 17. This elevated track bed may in somecases be at the same elevation as the moveable track bed 12 and thestationary curved track bed 11.

FIG. 6 provides a clear plan view of one quadrant of the curved trackbed showing that moveable track bed 12 is able to roll away laterallywithout interfering with the stationary track bed 11. Actual clearancesbetween track beds 11 and 12 are critical and are to be designed toallow for rail expansion.

FIG. 7 represents a generalized definition for arch and arch sectionshapes. It is to be understood that non-symmetrical shapes are withinthe scope of the present invention. FIG. 7 also illustrates aconfiguration wherein the roof has only one main arch 20 with lateralmovement in one direction only effecting complete interior exposure.FIG. 7 shows a rotating arch 21 however, this could be comprised of tworotating arch sections similar to non-opposed arch section 22. There isan infinite number of arch and arch section shapes that may be used toeffect a retractable roof system.

FIG. 8 is a special configuration wherein the stadium to be covered isnon-circular but has circular ends whereon arch sections may roll on acurved track bed 11 onto a moveable curved track bed 12 thus permittingmain arches 1 and 2 to roll away laterally similar to the movementdescribed in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a special configuration wherein arch sections 3, 6, 7 and 10are comprised of fabric 35 suspended on a cable network 36. Thisconfiguration has the same capability for retraction and roll-away asthat described in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 13 the fabric sections are deployedand retracted as follows: When fully retracted, the fabric section 3rests atop rigid arch section 4 and both sections 3 and 4 are parkeddirectly beneath one side of main arch 2. (For this description, onlyone quadrant will be decribed however it is understood that the processapplies to all quadrants). To commence roof closure, arch section 4carrying fabric section 3 rotates clockwise through approximately 30degrees at which point the trailer seal bracket 44 which is mounted onthe fabric trailer 42 which in turn rests upon the trailer supportbracket 49 comes in contact with the main arch seal bracket 46. Thefabric trailer 42 is then held stationary by suitable means. A remoteair compressor is activated introducing compressed air into a circularheader 41 located near the apex track bed 13 (see FIG. 4). This conveyscompressed air into the rotating arch section air duct 38 and the fabricdolly air duct 32 using flexible hoses 39. The effect of this is toproduce an air cushion beneath the fabric section allowing it to floatfree of the rigid arch section 4.

Arch section 4 continues to rotate clockwise however, the fabric sectionwhich is afixed to the now stationary fabric trailer 42 by clips 43 alsoremains stationary as the rigid arch section 4 rotates out from beneathit. As the rigid arch section 4 rotates, the fabric dolly 30 rolls on adolly track 37 with the fabric attached with clips 34 and sealed with agasket material 33. Arch section 4 completes clockwise rotation and thequadrant is fully closed. This process is performed simultaneously forall four quadrants. Once closed, the air supply to the apex header 41may be shut off.

To retract the quadrant, the fabric dolly 30 is locked in place on thestationary track bed 11. The air compressor is re-activated and as therigid arch section 4 begins to rotate counter-clockwise beneath thefabric section 3, the compressed air egressing from the rotating archsection air duct 38 and the fabric dolly air duct 32 provides a cushionbetween the rigid arch and the fabric section thus reducing wear on thefabric. The rigid arch section 4 continues to rotate counter-clockwiseuntil the trailer support bracket 49 slides beneath the fabric trailer42. The fabric dolly 30 and the fabric trailer 42 are releasedpermitting rotary movement and the air supply is shut off. The fabricsection 3 settles onto the surface of the rigid section 4. The rigidsection 4 continues counter-clockwise rotation carrying the fabricsection 3 atop until both sections come to rest beneath one side of themain arch 2. The quadrant is now retracted. The process is performedsimultaneously for all four quadrants.

Regarding sealing, although only the air tight sealing of the specialfabric configuration shown in FIG. 9 is detailed hereinafter, similartechniques are used for the weather tight sealing of otherconfigurations. In the following description, the main arch 2 and archsection 4 as shown in FIG. 10 are used for illustration however, thedescription applies to the other three quadrants of the roof as well.For this description, it is assumed that the upper surfaces of main arch2 and arch section 4 are covered with an appropriate material (steelcladding, plexiglass etc.). Also, the edge or vertical surfaces of themain arch 2 are similarly covered.

Regarding the seal between the underside of the main arch 2 and the topside of the fabric trailer 42, the main arch seal bracket 46 and thetrailer seal bracket 44 are designed so that when they engage, aneffective air seal is created.

Regarding the seal along the base perimeter of both the arch section 4and the fabric section 3 (see FIG. 10) a fabric shroud 61 (see FIG. 5)is afixed along the base of arch section 4. When the roof is in theclosed position, and is under compression, the lower end of this shroud61 together with the lower end of the fabric section 3 (see FIG. 9)press out against a sealing curb 60 (see FIG. 5) which extendsvertically from curved track beds 11 and 12.

Regarding the seal between the underside of fabric section 3 and theouter side of arch section 4, refer to FIG. 12. In the fully closedposition, the air supply system described in FIG. 13 would continue tosupply air to the fabric dolly air duct 32 and the rotating arch sectionair duct 38 however, at a small fraction of the pressure required duringthe opening and closing processes. This continuous airflow from thefabric dolly air duct 32 and the rotating arch section air duct 38produce an "air cushion" that provides an effective air tight sealbetween the underside of the fabric section 3 and the outer side of thearch section 4.

Regarding the seal at the top or apex area of the fabric section 3,refer to FIG. 3. A slotted fabric track 48 is attached to the undersideof the main arch 2 (the view shown in FIG. 3 shows main arch 1 howeverthe slotted fabric track 48 is also attached in a similar location onmain arch 2). This track 48 extends along the path of the upper or apexedge of fabric section 3 throughout both its' open and closed traverses.The upper edge of fabric section 3 contains grommets (not shown) atfrequent intervals to which roller devices (not shown) similar to thoseused in the suspension of household window drapes (but larger) areattached and which roll in the slotted fabric track 48. The track 48 isof such a design as to provide a virtually complete seal.

With the roof sealed and assuming the sub-structure has been designedfor air tight sealing, the structure may be pressurized by a remote aircompressor causing the fabric sections 3, 6, 7 and 10 (see FIG. 9) tobillow up into a generally domed shape.

Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited to these preciseembodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effectedtherein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope ofspirit of this invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A roof system forcovering stadium areas and the like comprising at least one main archhaving an apex and lower base legs spanning said open area,asubstantially circular apex track supported at the apex of the main archand a substantially circular base track system part of which issupported by the main arch adjacent said base legs, a series of one ormore arch sections each having an apex portion supported by said apextrack and base portion supported by said circular base track system andbeing movable from closed configuration where the main arch and archsections close a substantial portion of the stadium area to analigned-open configuration where the arch sections are supported by themain arch, and a second base track system supporting the lower base legsof said at least one main arch where by the main arch and said supportedarch sections may be rolled laterally to open the stadium area.
 2. Theroof system of claim 1 wherein there are two main arches each supportingone or more arch sections and each movable to open the stadium area. 3.The roof structure of claim 2 wherein the two main arches are movable inopposite directions on the second base track system to effect retractionof the roof from the stadium area.
 4. The roof system of claim 1 wherein one or more of the arch sections are comprised of fabric.
 5. The roofstructure as defined in claim 4 wherein the fabric roof sections aresupported by air pressure when in a closed configuration over thestadium area.
 6. A roof structure as defined in claim 1 wherein thestadium area is non-circular.
 7. A roof structure as defined in claim 6wherein the stadium area is oblong.